God's Call: The Lord Equips
As we mature in our Christian walk, we will become increasingly aware of God's call upon our lives. Sometimes it can seem outside of our comfort zones...
But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea.
And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.
Exodus 13:18
God's Call: The Struggle
Today, I want to encourage us that not only does the Lord set us up for success in our calling, but He also equips us.
The definition from Google's online dictionary defines equip as follows:
- supply with the necessary items for a particular purpose.
- prepare (someone) mentally for a particular situation or task.
I particularly liked this definition because of the second bullet. "Prepare someone mentally for a particular situation or task"
I think all of us would agree that most of the battles we fight are in our thoughts. Everything begins and ends in our minds. I expanded more about how to conquer this battle in my post, Flying into Windows which you can read about HERE.
Satan does not want to see Believers in Christ succeed, and He certainly doesn't want to see the church body as a whole succeed. What would be the best way for Satan to set the church up for failure, by stopping Believers in their tracks regarding their calling. And where does this happen, in their thought process.
God's Call: The Lord Equips
The Lord equips so that our call will not be derailed because of the lies we are believing. He prepares us mentally for that which He has called us to - first and foremost through His Word. The more we are saturated in God's Truth, the more equipped we are to shoot down Satan's lies...
Second, when we put on the mind of Christ, indeed the battle becomes the Lords. By taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, the Lord will equip us to destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God.
Be encouraged by these examples of how the Lord equips the call...
How many of us bloggers have sat down at our computers not having any idea what we were going to blog about. And then suddenly, the thoughts and words come to us and we find that the Lord has equipped us for success in our writing.
Or how many of us have been called to do ministry work outside of our comfort zone and found ourselves surrendering to the Lord because we were so nervous and then suddenly, while in the moment of ministering, we sense the Lord's strength and His power upon us, equipping us to minister with confidence.
{I share additional encouragement regarding comfort zones in my posts True Comfort is Found Outside Your Comfort Zone, which you can read HERE, where I expand upon that very idea, and The Comfort of God's Wrath ,which you can read HERE, where I share encouragement on where to find comfort during trials.}
{I share additional encouragement regarding comfort zones in my posts True Comfort is Found Outside Your Comfort Zone, which you can read HERE, where I expand upon that very idea, and The Comfort of God's Wrath ,which you can read HERE, where I share encouragement on where to find comfort during trials.}
The Lord is also in the business of equipping us through material items necessary for the work.
I'm sure we've all heard stories of missionary work where just the right amount of supplies were donated to complete the project.
Or a church building project, where the special talents and treasures of the congregation came together to build the church, debt free.
Or a ministry work placed upon your heart where the Lord provided the resources to accomplish it.
I'm sure you could add story after story where the Lord equipped the call.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights
with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:17
The Lord never calls us to failure or leaves us to fend for ourselves. {In my post The Antidote for Failure, which you can read HERE, I share ways to overcome feeling like a failure.}
He has created us for success in Him through His equipping and by His very presence.
He has created us for success in Him through His equipping and by His very presence.
For similar posts, click on the following:
4 Practical Ways to Incorporate Service into your Daily Life
3 Biblical Ways You Are Called to Serve in Your Church
Is God Calling You To Do a Hard Thing?
3 Biblical Ways You Are Called to Serve in Your Church
Is God Calling You To Do a Hard Thing?
Do you sense God's call upon your life?
You can be sure He WILL equip ALL that you need!
You might find me on these link-ups:
Grace & Truth, Woman to Woman Ministries, Inspire Me Monday, A Wise Women Builds Her Home, Spiritual Sundays, Soul Survival, Good Morning Mondays, Tell His Story, Faith & Fellowship Blog Hop, Tuesday Talk, Faith 'N Friends, Sitting Among Friends House to Home ,Wonderful Wednesday , Literacy Musings Mondays,Imparting Grace, Dance with Jesus, Booknificent Thursdays , Fresh Market Friday Moments of Hope Wonderful Wednesdays , Tea & Word Tuesday Heart Encouragement Thursday Hearts for Home Messy Marriage Link-up Friday at the Fire Station Link-up Tune In Thursday Faith on Fire Link-up, Sunday Scripture Blessings Link-up, Sunday Thoughts, Writer Wednesday, Faith Filled Friday God Sized Dreams Link-Up Sitting Among Friends Be Thee Inspired Graceful Tuesday Link-up Aprons & Pearls Link-up Trekkingthru Link-up Encouraging Word Wednesday Grace Moments Link-up Encouraging Hearts and Home Worth Beyond Rubies Seeking Sabbath Scripture and a Snapshot IHeart Verse Welcome Heart Kingdom Bloggers Outdoorsy Mommy Anchored Truth Tuesdays IHeart Verse InstaEncouragements
Dear Karen, this is just what my heart is yearning to hear! My call from God seems so different from pretty much everyone in my world. Some days I don't seem to know which way is up. Thanks and blessings for reminding me that I don't have to. All I have to do is rely on the One Who Calls us!
ReplyDeleteHi Alice, Praising God that you heard what you needed to.
DeleteIndeed and Amen!
Thank you for sharing your heart here. I know the Lord will bless your obedience to His call.
I've never thought of 'equipping' as being a mental matter--but that makes so much sense! If we have the right attitude, it's so much easier to get the job don!
ReplyDeleteHi Anita, I hadn't either until the Lord showed me in those verses. :-)
DeleteIndeed!
Thanks so much for stopping by.
These are such great reflections on God's call on our lives! This is especially encouraging to me, because my husband recently entered a new ministry position, and if God called him to this position, I can trust that He will equip him! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi Christin, Thank you for your kind words.
DeletePraising God you found encouragement here.
Indeed!
Thanks so much for stopping by.
a great and practical series - i always feel less than equipped but God pulls through. speaking again this weekend and need all the mental, etc prep and equipment He wants to give! thanks, karen.
ReplyDeleteHi Sue, Thank you for your kind words.
DeletePrayed for your weekend speaking engagement that the Lord would give you peace, recall, wisdom, grace and all the provisions you need.
You are welcome,
Blessings,
Oh, thank you for this much needed, precious encouragement! God always uses you to minister to me in such a special way, and you seem to write what is so relevant to what I am going through. The Holy Spirit is so faithful to put us in each other's lives to encourage and edify and build up one another's faith. Thank you for your obedience to His call upon your life. He has certainly equipped you, and you are doing His work well. Much love to you, my dear, faithful friend.
ReplyDeleteHi Cheryl, Praising God you found the encouragement you needed here. I am humbled to be used in such a special way in your life through the Lord's prompting in my writing. He has certainly used your life, example and writing in my life to encourage me in my walk with the Lord.
DeleteIndeed He is!
Your kind and encouraging words just mean so much to me. Thank you so much.
Sending you much love and gratitude.
You are so right Karen. He equips us to do what he has purposed us for. Often we fail to trust him because we do not see all the pieces put together. But God has already orchestrated it all.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing that. So true! He is the Great Orchestra Leader.
DeleteThanks so much for stopping by. :-)
"The Lord never calls us to failure or leaves us to fend for ourselves. " Amen! He is faithful to provide all we need to be obedient to His call. Blessings to you! Thanks for linking up with us at the #LMMLinkup!
ReplyDeleteHi Gayl, Thanks so much for always taking the time to leave a thoughtful comment. I appreciate it!
DeleteSo true the words about satan and he really does try to destroy through our thoughts. But how awesome that we have the Holy Spirit left with us as a reminder that his words are empty.
ReplyDeletePeabea from Peabea Scribbles
Hi Peabea, Indeed and Amen!
DeleteThanks so much for stopping by.
I really appreciate that 2nd definition of the word equip too! It brings a whole new dimension to the already powerful word, and paints quite a picture! So thankful that God equips His saints! Don't like to think of how lacking I would be without His grace to equip me for the task He's called me to. Great post!
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel, Thank you so much for adding to the conversation. I so appreciate it! :-)
DeleteThank you so much for your kind words.
Thanks for sharing this encouragement at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com!
ReplyDeleteTina
Hi Tina, You are very welcome. :-)
Delete